Author: Matt Russell
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/04
Page Numbers: 144,145
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Radio Control Pylon Racing

Matt Russell [[email protected]]

Politics, politics, and Pylon rules changes

IT'S HARD NOT to be political this year, and we all have our personal opinions about how things should be. We are correct in our views because we couldn't have opinions without feeling that we were right about what we believe. I will try to keep my opinions to myself and allow you to make up your own mind.

It is important that you participate in the political process, or others will make the decisions that affect you for you. It is a certainty that some people who don't take part will complain loudly after the fact, when the outcome is determined — and I don't want you to fall into that group.

I am referring to the rules changes that are afoot in Pylon Racing. Several items are being addressed during this rules-change cycle, and there would have been a few more if I had been paying attention to the rules-cycle calendar. If you are racing now, or have an interest in racing if the rules were changed, you need to educate yourself so you can contact your Contest Board director and express your opinion.

A few rules changes are proposed for Quickie 500 (AMA event 428), or Q-500, and Quarter 40 (AMA event 422), or Q-40. In various ways and from several different submissions, there are suggestions for slowing this event. Two reasons are generally given for wanting to slow it down:

  • To reduce cost and difficulty, thereby attracting more racers to the event.
  • To create more of a difference in speed between Q-500 and Q-40.

The proposed changes are significant; some would disallow the engines we have been racing.

WWJD — What Would Jimmy Do?

Regardless of what the resulting rules changes are, we all need to examine our individual efforts to recruit and expose others to racing.

I enjoyed reading a thread on the National Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA) website forum about Jim Shinohara. He passed away 10 years ago after suffering a heart attack while in Europe participating in the FAI World Championships. If you read this thread and the "History" pages on Dave Shadel's Performance Specialties website, you will notice that they share a theme: Jim had an infectious passion for fun and for helping people.

Two years ago Gary Freeman Jr. started a popular thread titled "The Dying Days of Racing." I condensed the posts and forwarded them to the members of my local racing club here in Spokane for people to consider. We have brainstormed and discussed various ways to improve the attendance and attract more participants at our events. In the Southeast, Don Stegall set out to demonstrate racer models to other sport fliers by outfitting a trailer with demo aircraft and a mobile hobby shop.

One of the racers in my area, Thom Martin, related to me the results of a poll taken some years back. It asked numerous modelers what they liked most about their hobby. The overwhelming answers were the social aspect of getting together with other people who share a common interest. I stopped by the race at Whittier Narrows, California, last fall while I was on a layover and had almost as much fun saying hello and visiting the racers as I would have if I had been able to participate.

Ultimately the key to expanding our sport has got to come from within. If each of us who is actively racing sets a goal to mentor a new racer each year, we would more than offset those who lose interest and drop out. Maybe one-third of the pilots who get started will have the "fever" and stick with it. Racing can be expensive, but not any more so than other aspects of modeling or recreation. Traveling to out-of-town races is by far the most expensive part of my hobby.

How many of us have a spare Q-500 we could fix up for a new racer to use in the Sport Quickie (AMA event 424) class? A new flier doesn't need the fastest model to get started, and ARFs fly great even if they are a little banged up.

Twenty-six years ago my friend Jim Booker invited me to come watch the NMPRA Championship Race, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. I had been flying models for years, but the beautifully finished Formula 1 models being flown so aggressively totally blew me away. I met some of the neatest people and instantly had the "fever."

When I got home I immediately set out building my first Pylon racers. We raced Quickie locally, and Jim contributed a reparable Little Toni Formula 1 model I began to patch up. For the next couple of years Jim coached and counseled my efforts in racing. I never could have participated without his guidance and mentoring.

Travis, Dave, and others benefited from Jim Shinohara's generosity, and fliers in my area benefited from Jim Booker's. Who will benefit from yours?

New Product

I purchased a nifty CG gauge from Travis Flynn at SuperT Radio Control Products. This laser-cut unit assembles quickly and can break down for travel. I have used it in the shop and at the field.

For a price of $35, you can't be without one. This device will be in my toolbox from now on!

New Event

A recent development on the race scene is a Sport Quickie championship, which will be held at Whittier Narrows May 17–18, with the 16th being a practice day. This will be a contest for two classes: Standard and Expert.

All types of Q-500 airframes will be allowed, including composites that are normally excluded from this event. The race will be held on the short course, so the competition should be exciting. Check the NMPRA website for more information.

That's all for this month. If you have information you would like me to publish here, call (509) 869-6300 or e-mail me. Thanks for your time. See you in two months. Keep it out of the dirt.

Sources

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.